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their organization-an organization which, at the same time, would not be hurt by the formation of the reserve force. The details for the elaboration of this plan must necessarily be matters for settlement hereafter. Sir Edward Selby Smyth, in his Militia Report, early in 1879, wrote as follows

"An Imperial reserve, paid by Imperial funds, officered and recruited from Canada alone, would be a strong and important support to the militia. They could, in time of war, not only release Imperial troops from Halifax, but send a contingent to reinforce the army. The plan upon which this organiza- tion could be adopted has been considered, and I am sanguine it would succeed."

I regret that Sir Edward's time of service being shortly about to expire, the Canadian militia will not henceforward have the benefit of his services in Canada, but the Dominion will still have the benefit of his experience if he be allowed to give evidence in England before any Committee whose duty it may be to consider whether, in any changes of army organization, the Colonial forces may be called upon to furnish a trained contingent in time of need. He has largely consulted Canadian civil and military authorities during this year with reference to this scheme, and knows well their feelings and opinions on the subject.

It is true that at all times Canada would be willing to send a much larger force than any now proposed to be raised as a part of the reserve into the field, should the Empire need their services; but it is of great importance to Canada that she should be enabled to take her part in the defence of the Empire without drawing from her own territory her militia regiments which are required at home. This object could be attained by the creation of a small reserve force, whose existence would be an encouragement to other Colonies to follow the example of Canada; would show to Britain that the Canadians, besides being better customers per head for her merchants than any foreigners, are also willing to contribute their share to lighten the burdens of war, and would prove that, in dealing with Britain, it is not alone with the forces of the three Kingdoms that foreign countries have to reckon.

Appendix No. 6.

CANADA.

Inclosure 2 in No. 1.

I have, &c. (Signed)

LORNE.

The Marquis of Lorne to the Earl of Kimberley.

(Secret.) My Lord,

Government House, Ottawa, May 17, 1880. REFERRING to my despatch of the 12th instant* on the question of the raising of a Canadian contingent for the Imperial reserve, the accompanying Memoranda have been sent to me by Sir Edward Selby Smyth and by Sir Patrick MacDougall. These are forwarded for the information of the War Office, but Sir Edward Selby Smyth will have opportunities, if allowed to give evidence before the Colonial Defence Committee, of stating much more fully and in greater detail, his opinion as to the best manner in which the plan under discussion may be carried out.

I may observe that, although Canada might in the future wish to embody regular regiments, with or without a system of interchange of service with British regiments, that this is not at present a prac- tical question, and I forward these Memoranda only for the sake of the observations made in them with regard to the contingent for the Imperial reserve.

With regard to paragraphs 5, 6, and 7, I should be inclined to question the proposal that the companies formed should have officers on paper. It is desirable to take the plan with regard to the enrolment by companies or individually which will be likely to breed the least jealousy among the several militia battalions. I understand from Sir Edward that what he has proposed with reference to this is based on the result of discussions with able Deputy Adjutant-Generals in Canada, such as Colonels Straubenzie, Monsell, and Taylor, and Colonel Powell, of the Militia Department, Ottawa.

With regard to paragraph 11, I think that it will hardly be necessary that the General officer commanding in Canada should inspect the reserves every year, as the officer commanding the militia would be fully competent to undertake this duty. It is desirable that the officer commanding the militia should be looked up to with perfect confidence by the men under his command, a result which might be affected by the annual supervision of another officer whose inspection might give rise to needless jealousy.

With reference to paragraphs 12 and 13, reserve men should not be enrolled from among the active militia, it being of much political importance that the Canadian militia should not consider their ranks to be weakened by the formation of a reserve contingent.

As regards paragraph 20, I agree with Sir Selby that the officers should be selected from the reserve militia, because it is of political as well as of military importance that the active militia should be kept intact. The General officer commanding would select from names sent up by the Deputy Adjutant-Generals.

I have, &c. (Signed)

LORNE.

P.S.-I request that the inclosures herewith sent, and these remarks, be communicated to the Colonial Defence Commission.

L.

* Inclosure 1.

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